Danger call alarm



Oct. 9, 1945. c. c. FARKER DANGER CALL ALARM Filed Juy o, 1943 mm n my N Z M m; ,s a M. om V.

Patentecl Oct. 9, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DLANGER oALL ALARM V Cecil Carlton Parker, Hyde Park, N. Y. A icatio''jii y 10, 1943, S crial No. 494,437

- I 3 caimsc (o. 16-67 The invention herein disclosed relates to alarms and the objects of the invention are to provide a, device of this nature, which may be readily held concealed in the hand and be operated in the event of bodily attack -or dangert of any character, to send out a distress signal.

Further objects are to provide'such a device Which' wil] be of simple, inexpensive, light construction, easily carried in a pocket or pocketbook and which will be readily chargeable or renewable to supply the energy required for sending out a recognizable distress call for an appreciable length of time.

Other desirable objects will appear as the specification proceeds.

The drawing accompanying and forming part of the following specification illustrates a present practical embodiment of the invention. structure however may be modified and changed within the true intent of the invention as will become apparent from the actual scope ofthe invention as hereinafter defined and claimed.

Fig. 1 in the drawing is a longitudinal sectional view of a form of the invention charged and ready for use.

Fig. 2 is a broken sectional view showing thee trigger actuated to efiect the sounding of the alarm.

Fig. 3 is an end View of the device.

Figs. 4 and 5 are end views of the device as appearing in Figs. 1 and 2 respectively.

A special feature of the invention is the utilization of a small compressed gas cartridge for supplying the energy for sounding the alarm.

In the drawing, a gas cartridge or capsule of typical design is illustrated at 5, having a puncturable seal 6, at one end.

This cartridge is seated within a easing carrying a sounding device, or otherwise connected with the sounding means and a hand trigger, or other suitable member for eifecting puncture of the cartridge seal.

In the illustration, the cartridge is shown seated in a small cylindrical gastight easing 'l, having a removable screw cap 8, at one end.

The sounding device is shown as a Whistle 9, supported by the cover directly over the seal end of the cartridge.

The seal puncturing means is shown as a hand actuated trigger lever '0, pivoted on the cover at l l, and carrying a point '2, projecting through the center opening '3, in the Whistle, into position for engagement with the seal.

The trigger lever '0, is shown as of angled formation, providing a short base portion '4,

extending across the ,cap and carrying the punc- -turing point and a longer leverage handle portion '5, extending along the side of the easing in position for grasping and applying a. squeezing pressure.

The construction as disclosed is small enough for being held concealed in the palm of the hand, with ,the fingers about the lever and ready to actuate the same by a slight squeezing movement. Once the seal is broken, the Whistle will continue to sound even though the device be dropped or knocked out of the hand. These small gas containers hold enough compressed carbon dioxide or other gas to keep the Whistle sounding for a long enough time to be heard and recognized as a distress call by anyone within reach of the sound. The Whistle may be of the police type, so that the signal will be recognized as a call for police assistance.

The cartridges are easily replaceable upon simply unscrewing the cap, this enabling the spent cartridge to be dropped out and a new one to be inserted in its place.

Instead of requiring the gripping power of the fingers to break the seal, the power for this purpose may be provided by a spring strong enough to actuate the puncturing point and arranged to be released by the trigger lever.

The gas compressed in the small fiasks or cartridges such as illustrated, provides a practical energy source for operating the alarm.

In the present illustration, the Whistle is detachably held by the cap, this construction having the advantage of enabling the ready substitution of diierent kinds or tones of whistles.

A suitable guard or safety lock may be provided to prevent accidental discharge, such as the spring clasp shown at '6, attached to the handle and shouldered at '1, to normally hold the handle away from the easing as in Fig. '4, but arranged with sufficient pressure to yieid as in Fig. 5, and thereupon to clasp itself about the easing and hold the trigger in the actuated position. Held in this relation, the handle indicates that the cartridge has been discharged` and that the device should be refilled.

While generally considered as a danger call alarm and so entitled in this disclosure, it will be realized that the invention is not restricted to this particular use.

As a further protective means, the easing or holder for the gas cartridge may have a rearview mirror '8, on the side of the same, adjacent but out of the way of the handle '5, for enabling a party suspecting danger to see to the rear or to the side, while getting ready to set ofi the alarm.

The mirror may be an integral portion of the easing if the latter be of a light refiecting material or have a light reflective surface. Otherwise, the mirror may be a separate piece attached to the side of the easing.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination, a gas-tight easing for housing and adapted to be opened to receive a sealed carti'idge'of compressedlgassand provided with a vent for escape of gas released from said cartridge, a hand operable trigger on said easing for rupturing the seal of said cartridge, said vent including a Whistle having a passage thereth'ough and said seal rupturing mean s .including a puncture p int extending through said opening in said Whistle.

2. A danger call alarm, comprising a small generally cylindrical compressed gas cartridge having a rpuncturable seal at one lend, a small substantially cylindrical hand-size container .operable 'to receive said rcartridge, and irwhich said cartridge is sealed, a Whistle mounted in one end of said container in line with 'the'punc- -turable seal'of the cartridge, ahand lever .closely overlying said container, a seal puncturing point aoperable by said lever and projecting into the end of the easing in position for engagement with the cartridge seal and hand pressure yielding means for normally retaining the hand lever in non-puncturing position.

3. A unitary danger call alarm to be carried concealed in the palm of the hand and be actuated by the fingers gripping the same, said alarm comprising a small compressed gas cylinder having a puncturable seal at one end, a small cylindrical container of a size *to closely receive said compressed gas cylinder and having readily releasable means for removably securing said lcylinder therem, said container being open at one end and having an alarm sounding Whistle *'at'said-'open end and exposed to pressure of gas released from .the compressed gas cylinder, a

puncturing point within the container opposed 'to' the -seal of the gas cylinder, a lever pivotaiy supported at one end of the container and extending along one side of the container for actu- -ation by the fingers of the hand in which the device is gripped and means operable by 'said lever for effecting the coaction 'of said puncturing point with the seal of said `compressed gas cylinder and whereby said alarm may :be sounded `by a simple squeezing action of therhand in which the device is carried and concealed.

- 4 LC. CARLTON PARKER. 

